Judeo-Christian Tradition Flashcards
Where did Judiasm, Christianity and Islam all begin?
In a small corner of southwest Asia,
In the Torah, who did god chose to be the “father” or “ancestor” of the Hebrew people.
Abraham
Are Hebrews monotheistic or polytheistic?
They are monotheists (they believed in 1 god)
Hebrew God
- There is only one
- All perfect and all knowing
- Eternal
- It was god’s wish for people to live moral lives
What is the “Hebrew Bible” to Christians
- The Old Testimate
Why, in the Hebrew religion, are people responsible for their own choices?
- God gave them moral freedom
When did Moses receive the ten commandments?
- This occurred between 1300 and 1200 BCE
Focus of the ten commandments
- Morality
Prophets in the Hebrew religion
- leaders and teachers who were believed by the Jews to have been sent by god
- strengthened the Jews’ social conscience,
- attacked war, oppression, and greed (in statements)
Ten Commandments
- I am the Lord thy God. . . Thou shalt have no
other gods before me. - Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image. . .
- Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God
in vain. . . - Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy.
- Honor thy father and thy mother. . .
- Thou shalt not kill.
- Thou shalt not commit adultery.
- Thou shalt not steal.
- Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy
neighbor. - Thou shalt not covet. . . anything that is thy
neighbor’s.
According to the Christain New Testimate, when was Jesus born?
6 to 4 BC
What did Jesus teach? (Christianity)
- Jesus’ ideas went beyond traditional morality. He
stressed the importance of people’s love for God, their neighbors, their enemies,
and themselves.
Why was Jesus crucified (Christianity)
Because some referred to him as the
“king of the Jews,” the Roman governor considered him a political threat.
Spread of Christianity
- After Jesus died, Christianity spread slowly but steadily across the Roman Empire.
- Paul had a lot of influence over Christianity
In what two ways did Rome spread Judaism and Christianity?
- The first way was indirect. After the Jews began to rebel against the Romans in the first century, they were exiled
from their homeland in A.D. 70. This dispersal was called the Diaspora. The Jews then fled to many parts of the world, where they shared their beliefs that all people had the right to be treated with justice and dignity.
The second way the empire spread Judeo-Christian ideas was more direct. - Despite Roman persecution of Christians, Christianity became a powerful religion throughout the empire and beyond. By 380, it had become the official religion of the empire. Eventually, it took root in Europe, the Near East, and northern Africa.
Islam- Who’s teachings was it based on?
- The prophet Mohammad
Where are Mohammad’s teachings found?
The Qur’an
What did Mohammad teach?
He emphasized the dignity of all human beings and the
brotherhood of all people. A belief in
the bond of community and the unity of
all people led to a tolerance of different
groups within the community.
What are the followers of Islam called?
- Muslims
Several ideas crucial to the shaping of a democratic outlook emerged from the early monotheistic religions of southwest
Asia. They include the following:
- the duty of the individual and the community to combat oppression
- the worth of the individual
- the equality of people before God
What did the Roman Catholic church develop from?
Roman Christianity
What happened to the Roman Catholic Church by the Middle Ages?
By the Middle Ages, it had become the most
powerful institution in Europe. It influenced all aspects of
life—religious, social, and political.
Renaissance
- Movement that started in Italy, and spread across the rest of Europe (with the help of the printing press)
- marked by renewed interest in classical
culture. - Renaissance thinkers were interested in
earthly life for its own sake. They rejected the medieval
view that life was only a preparation for the afterlife. - Renaissance education was intended to prepare some men
for public service rather than just for service to the Church.
Durring the Rennisance, what did the study of classical texts encourage?
The study of classical texts led to an
intellectual movement that encouraged ideas about human
potential and achievement.
When did the spirit of questioning that started during the Renaissance come to full bloom?
The Reformation
Protestants
- they protested against the power and abuses of the
Church.
Where did the Reformation start?
Germany
Martin Luther
- criticized the Church’s practice of selling pardons for sins.
- He contradicted the Church’s position that salvation came through faith and good works. He said people could be saved only through faith in God.
What new branch of Christianity did the reform movement result in?
Protestantism.
Catholic view on interpreting the bible vs Protestant view on interpreting the bible
Catholics and Protestants differed on many issues. The
Catholic Church claimed the right to interpret the Bible for
all Christians. Protestants called on believers to interpret the
Bible for themselves.
Catholic vs Protestant view on how to reach salvation
The Catholic Church said the only way
to salvation was through the Church. Protestants said that the
clergy had no special powers; people could find individual
paths to God.
Judaism
- Hebrews were monotheists who believed in one god
- Practiced Judaism
- People had dignity simply by being a child of God adn each person was responsible for the choices they made; emphasis on the worth of the individual
Jewish Law Teaches Morality
- Moses forms a covenant with God
- Ten Commandments- code of morality and ethics; rules of social and religious behavior
- Prophets taught that people should oppose injustice and oppression and the community should assist the unfortunate
Christianity
- The teachings of Christianity
- Love for God, their neighbors, their enemies, and themselves
- Jesus was thought of as the “king of the Jews” and was crucified
- Christianity- Teaching of Jesus Christ
The spread of Christianity
- The spread of Christianity
- Apostle Paul spread Christianity and stressed the importance of equality for all human beings
- Religion would welcome any converts
Rome spreads Judeo-Christian Ideas
- Jewish Diaspora- spread their beliefs that all people had the right to be treated with justice and dignity
- Christianity became the official religion of the Roman Empire
Islam
- Monotheistic religion is based on the teachings of Muhammad
- Qur’an was a collection of teachings from god delivered to Muhammad
- Emphasized dignity of all human beings and the brotherhood of all people
- Muslims were required to offer charity to those in need
Legacy of Monotheistic Religions
- The duty of the individual and the community to combat oppression
- worth of the individual
- equality of people before God
Renaissance
- Roman Catholic Church- During the middle ages it controlled all political, social, and religious aspects of life
- Renaissance- renewed interest in classical Greek culture, fueled by the invention of the printing press
- Prepared men for public service instead of service for the church
- Encouraged human potential and achievement
- Individualism
Reformation
Reformation- religious reform movement in the 19th century led by the Protestants
- Martin Luther- criticized the Church for selling pardons
- Salvation came through faith in God, not good works
- Protestantism
- Interpret the bible by themselves
- People could find individual paths to God; didn’t need church
- Questioned political authority
Legacy of the Renaissance and Reformation
- By challenging authority the reformation indirectly contributed to the growth of democracy
- Introduced individuals to reading
- Emphasis on the Individual
